> Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1993 15:06:48 -0600
> From: Karen Heasley <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: New rink plans moving along
> To: Multiple recipients of list HOCKEY-L
>
> Plans for the new Colorado Springs arena-convention center were confirmed
> at a meeting at the Broadmoor Wednesday.  The key groups participating in
> this project are the El Pomar Foundation, Broadmoor, Gates Land Co. and
> Canadian investors.  Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum will be in charge of
> the design of the new facility.  Their resume includes places like
> Baltimore's Camden Yards, Denver's Coors Field and Miami's Joe Robbie
> Stadium.  One of their main goals is to preserve the legacy and the "ghosts"
> of the Broadmoor in the new building.
 
What Karen doesn't include, and it is possibly a serious stumbling
block, is the "poker game" that is being played around this arena.  The
issues revolve around use of tax dollars, ownership of the facility,
and liability.  Colorado Springs taxpayers have said "no" to a civic
auditorium twice already.  Moreover, there was the "Ski Broadmoor"
fiasco a couple of years ago where the city agreed to take over the
ski area and then lost a bundle of money trying to run it.
 
>         Another article in Thurs. GT describes the impact of this decision
> for CC.
> begin quoted material
> ---------------------
>         The new complex may include a 3,500-seat practice rink, which could
> be completed before the main project is finished.  But that plan remains a
> question.
>         "I told Max (Taylor, CC's athletic director) we're probably going
> to need another 30 days (to decide)," said Peter Susemihl, chairman of the
> arena committee.  He said that decision would be partially contingent on
> the availability of convention space within the project.
 
and the money.....
 
>         Taylor said if the practice rink isn't available, he'll be a busy
> man.
>         "In that case, I would really have to get on the ball to find a
> place to play," Taylor said.  "That would leave us with very few choices,
> obviously.  I would hope Pa Sertich (the 2,000-seat, city-owned rink in
> Memorial Park) would have some open dates.  Air Force has been super in the
> past to help us on occasion, but I wouldn't know what the availability
> would be until I talked to Ken Schweitzer (AFA's athletic director).
 
Air Force has been helpful in the past, letting CC play home games at
cadet field house when the broadmoor is otherwise occupied.  This
year, they host St. Cloud at the arena.  I'd personally love to see CC
play up here as it is 10 minutes from home instead of over half an hour away
clear on the other end of town.
> end quoted material
> -------------------
>
> I'm glad that they've finally gotten the money and plans confirmed for this
> new place.  It'll be one less thing that CC has to worry about.
 
No, they don't really have everything confirmed yet.  They have enough
money to do a half baked job of it, but not enough to build the kind
of facility that would be right for the city, the hotel, and the
college.  I'd love to the good facility built.  I've had several
conversations with our (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs)
athletic director, Theo Gregory, the latest one being earlier this week
about our school being involved, and really hope the arena committee can
pull it off.
 
charlie shub
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(719) 593 3492               (fax) 593-3369